Three U.S. Navy amphibious warships are returning to the eastern Mediterranean to remain on standby in the event they are needed to assist Americans leaving Israel in the coming days, according to two U.S. officials.

The officials stressed an evacuation remains an extremely remote possibility and the Obama administration is not currently planning for one. Americans who wish to leave the region now are able to do so using commercial airlines.

But the decision to send the ships even if the event is such a remote contingency underscores the growing concern about where the Israel-Gaza conflict could be headed.

"This is due diligence. It is better to be prepared should there be a need," one official said Monday. Both officials said the ships would be used only for assisting Americans and not for any combat role.

The most immediate impact will be on the ships' crews and the estimated 2,500 Marines on board. They had been scheduled to return to Norfolk, Virginia, just after Thanksgiving; their homecoming will now be delayed several days depending on events, the officials said.

The ships involved are the USS Iwo Jima, the USS New York and the USS Gunston Hall. At the end of last week the ships were west of Gibraltar, before the decision was made to turn them around and send them back to the eastern Mediterranean, where they will remain for now.

The U.S. military also maintains three to four ships off the coast of Israel that are capable of shooting down ballistic missiles. That deployment has stretch for some months in the face of a potential ballistic threat from Iran.

soundoff(1,721 Responses)

Israelis are Terrorists

GO TO YOUTUBE: TYPE IN ALAN SABROSKY 911, DANCING ISRAELI'S, DANNY JOWENKO, DOMINICK SUTER, URBAN MOVING SYSTEMS, BARRY JENNINGS, WILLIAM RODRIGUEZ.......THIS SHOULD SET YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH TO THE TRUTH!!

Wow, I'm so surprised! A barely literate half-wit fool has written an irrelevant post in all caps full of spelling and grammatical errors, spinning ridiculous antisemitic paranoia. Must be a comment on CNN!

Actually these folks came over from Fox News when they closed down the comments over there.

November 20, 2012 at 8:45 am |

Jim

No Norm,
Only far left liberals have an unnatural hatred of jews.
Not many of those on Foxnews

November 20, 2012 at 3:26 pm |

Love USA

In the past I have always supported Israel but honestly ......there is something about Jews which is not right......they are killing babies and .......is using our media to show that they are innocent.....and fight a real war.......all they are doing is using our weapons and killing innocent civilians....just so that Mr NYahoo could win the upcoming election....

I know it is hard to keep track of, but when you are talking to your fellow neo-Nazis / jihadis you are supposed to say "Jews" do xyz. When you are talking to the outside world you are supposed to say "Zionists" or "Israelis" do xyz.

Israel is doing a great job defending itself, say you attacked me and went and hid in an orphanage; you keep attacking me from the orphanage, I get fed up and attempt to blow the roof of the orphanage up but little do I know you have innocent people lined up there in order to make me sin a great sin when all I did was just try and get you to stop. This is what's happening. Hamas are cowards, innocent people should flee and allow Israel to demolish them, life would than be so much better.

FYI: Arabs living in Israel have more rights, more freedom than Arabs living in any radical islamist Hamas controlled area. Think about it.

Israel is doing a great job defending itself, say you attacked me and went and hid in an orphanage; you keep attacking me from the orphanage, I get fed up and attempt to blow the roof of the orphanage up but little do I know you have innocent people lined up there in order to make me sin a great sin when all I did was just try and get you to stop. This is what's happening. Hamas are cowards, innocent people should flee and allow Israel to demolish them, life would than be so much better.

FYI: Arabs living in Israel have more rights, more freedom than Arabs living in any radical islamist Hamas controlled area. Think about it.

In the past I have always supported Israel but honestly ......there is something about Jews which is not right......they are killing babies and .......is using our media to show that they are innocent.....and fight a real war.......all they are doing is using our weapons and killing innocent civilians....just so that Mr NYahoo could win the upcoming election....

THe US should NOT be involved in Israel's issues. They are NOT our friend. Just taking our money. I am opposed to helping Isreal. I think they have plenty of money of their own. I will resent any military involvement in this atrocity they are infliciting on Palestine.

Things Israel did and does for the US:
1) During the cold war Israel made enemies with countries like RUSSIA to support the US. The US needed a base in the middle east and Israel was the ONLY one who would offer that. Now the cold war is over, but Russia is still not a fan of Israel. Your mindset would probably be "f em, that was then" – but friends back each other up
2) Israel develops technology for the US – both militarily and civilian purposes
3) Israel provides a base of operations for the US in case the US has to go in and fight countries like Iran. They also offered support during the Iraq war
4) Israel provides spy services to the US
5) After 9/11 (remember that little thing) Israel security consultants came to the US to offer training in how to better secure airports

What's the Arab world done for us (i mean us, as in we) lately? They sell us oil, try and smuggle terrorists into our land, and commit humanitarian crimes (e.g., Syria killing their citizens) against each other.

In the meantime, the United States pays Egypt to maintain peace with Israel. In return Egypt gets to have a smaller army, and enjoys open trade with Israel.

Last time a US warship went near Israel, Israel bombed us and killed 22 US sailors, later the US government closed the case and ended the investigation because of pressure from Jewish Lobbies, USS liberty

The rags told Israel give us Gaza and we will leave you alone, Yea right.
Israels keep loosening them up, you can tell the rags are lying when they hit a building and it goes up like a fire works factory, that was a direct hit of more rockets.

Do what you have to and then get down to business and go house to house and remove the cancer.

God bless Israel, Israel is the lion that will defeat the hyena terrorists. All they ask is for rockets to stop firing on their people, why is that so difficult? Israel belongs to the Israelis, and all Jews. It's their home, they sacrificed so much already.. God is behind them, as I am. God bless them, and God bless us.

I am American .....and honestly all the people I have spoken with they don't like what Jews are doing......don't push us too much before we kick your assss out of USA and leave you to dogs in Arabs.....they are dogs and will eat you live.....so start behaving if you want us to support you.....

I agree with you .....we should let these dogs fight with each other .....and let them rot.....they deserve that......we should rather save american blood and money......

November 19, 2012 at 8:47 pm |

Israelis are Terrorists

ISRAEL IS THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN..THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, NOR DO THEY BELIEVE IN CHRISTMAS...BUT THEY CLAIM TO BE GODS CHOSEN PEOPLE?..WHAT A CROCK OF BS!! jEWS ARE BLOOD THIRSTY ANIMALS HELLBENT ON WORLD DOMINATION OF THE GOYIM/ GENTILES.... HOPEFULLY THE U.S. WARSHIPS WILL TARGET THE REAL TERRORISTS -ISRAEL!!

In the past I have always supported Israel but honestly ......there is something about Jews which is not right......they are killing babies and .......is using our media to show that they are innocent.....and fight a real war.......all they are doing is using our weapons and killing innocent civilians....just so that Mr NYahoo could win the upcoming election....

November 19, 2012 at 8:51 pm |

SELENA MARLO

ISRAEL IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPASSIONATE OF MOST COUNTRIES OUT THERE..
ITS THE MUSLIMS COUNTRIES THAT STRAP BOMBS ON KIDS....
ITS THE MUSLIMS THAT TREAT WOMAN LIKE 3rd CLASS CITIZENS...
AND DONT FORGET JESUS IS AND WAS A JEW SO FOR ANYONE THAT HATES JEWS STOP PRAYING TO A JEW....
ONLY IN ISRAEL ARE CHRISTIANS AND JEWS EQUAL...THEY KILL CHRISTIANS AND JEWS IN ARAB COUNTRIES..
ALSO REMEMBER ISRAEL IS THE HOLY LAND AND MUST BE PROTECTED..
THATS GODS WILL IF ISRAEL GOES DOWN GOD MAY DESTROY THE WORLD...

November 19, 2012 at 9:07 pm |

Calvin

There they are. I thought the gator navy had gotten lost after not being called into help in Libya but there they are with marines, lots of marines, gun ships, and the ability to rescue ambassadors. By the way CNN, this ships don't have capability to shoot down ballastic missiles. Maybe you should tell us the names of the destroyers or cruisers.

hope USA is doing the right thing by moving Ships in the region.......hopefully they will gather the information ....rather disinformation of both F...kn Jews and Arabs and cut their balls for killing each other....

cONNIE DO NOT PLACE THE CATHOLICS WITH THESE RABID WOMEN AND CHILDREN KILLING RABID PARASITIC JEWS IN ISRAEL!! THE POPE HS ALREADY SPOKEN OUT ABOUT, AND IS AGAINST ISRAEL USING A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF FORCE AGAINST STONE THROWERS IN PALESTINE!!

DO NOT USE MY RELIGION AS A FRONT FOR A RELIGION–THE JEWS- WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST!

REAL REASON for this tension buildup is BECAUSE the ZIONIST NEOCONS are trying to persuade a conflict by PROXY for the state of Palestine-Israel. The REAL problem lies with the Zio-Nazi's in Israel, not in AMERICA!! Please stop placing the America public "lockstep" with the rabid zionist's interests in Israel! We DO NOT condone an Occupation, Ethnic Cleansing, and Apartheid of the Palestinian people!! And, AMERICANS DO NOT want to be ASSOCIATED WITH ISRAEL, AND THE psychopathic ways of the Zionists. AMERICA Thanks You, FOR DISASSOCIATING OUR PEOPLE, WITH THE "INHUMANENESS" OF THE ZIONIST-NEOCONS IN ISRAEL.Please refrain from "blending" our two nations in the future stories you post!

I thought it had something to due with all of those rockets that were being fired into Israel. Silly me Just how do the Israeli's get Hamas to do their bidding? So Israel makes Hamas fire missiles to give them an excuse to invade Gaza. yes it all makes sense now that you have enlightened me with the truth. Now where are you from? Palestine? You couldn't possibly be Muslim could you. I would hate to confuse you with an American if you weren't. and be combining your sentiments with those of Americas. I think maybe you and our President might be in pretty close agreement but I am sure a lot of Americans disagree with your views on what is going on over there. I suppose you think the Zionists and Bush brought down the Twin Towers too.

No, the REAL reason is that many of the cowardly, murderous descendents of murderous, thieving, Arab ancestors who stole the land from the Jews in the first place cannot afford to have their people exist in peace, as it would rob them of all their power. So they keep lobbing rockets at Israel from an infrastructure thoroughly enmeshed in the civilian population so that every time Israel has to strike back at the terrorists Hamas is ensured of numerous civilian casualties to fan the flames of hatred against the rightful owners of the land. The so-called "Palestinians" are the ones murdering their own people, for their own ends; they are just using the Israelis as their guns. Hamas commits murder by proxy against their own by killing and maiming Israelis and forcing them to respond in kind.

If you throw rocks at me, I'll throw rocks at you – unless, that is, I have a gun. If you're stupid enough to throw rocks at a man with a gun, you deserve to get your a$$ shot off. If you throw them from the midst of a crowd and the crowd doesn't act to stop you or at least to abandon you and leave you out in the open then they deserve any collateral damage they receive.

go to youtube: type in alan sabrosky 911, barry jennings, william rodriquez, and danny jowenko–this should give you a start onto how the JEWS were BEHIND 911– NOT THEM moozlims THE jews WANT YOU TO KILL FOR THEM!

Israel had a hand in 911 folks- not 19 boxcutter wirelding muslims the JEW media wants you to believe!!

Stone .. cold.. truth. Sorry bro but look at how perfect the timing of 9/11 was, to get us involved in the rush for central asia and encircle a rising China, right after the Taliban said no to a pipeline across their country.

If it wasn't for 9/11, imagine how much influence China and Russia would have over central asia and Iran. 9/11 was a strategic coup for the US.

The REAL REASON for this tension buildup is due to the ZIONIST NEOCONS who are trying to persuade a conflict by PROXY for the state of Palestine-Israel. The REAL problem lies with the Zio-Nazi's in Israel, not in AMERICA!! Please stop placing the America public "lockstep" with the rabid zionist's interests in Israel! We DO NOT condone an Occupation, Ethnic Cleansing, and Apartheid of the Palestinian people!! And, AMERICANS DO NOT want to be ASSOCIATED WITH ISRAEL, AND THE psychopathic ways of the Zionists. AMERICA Thanks You, FOR DISASSOCIATING OUR PEOPLE, WITH THE "INHUMANENESS" OF THE ZIONIST-NEOCONS IN ISRAEL.Please refrain from "blending" our two nations in the future stories you post!

What bafoonery nonsense. Let's see, let's name the sole country in the middle east that has consistently done the following: held open and free elections for its leaders at all levels, respects religious freedom, has a free and diverse press, free market economy, and has a vibrant middle class.. Now let's blame that country for all of the ills in the middle east, perhaps even the world, and pretend that the dozen or more countries in the region that have never held an election, don't respect religious freedom, have no free speech, free press, no middle class, and sponsor international terror, are all just poor victims of the former. Please....

How Democrat Party you are. Totally out to lunch when it comes to facts, truth and reality. Sad good people died so you could be so stupid with you words and facts – keep on being stupid – dems need you.

WILL THIS BECOME THE WAR THAT WILL END ALL WARS??? If these two nations will not find a peaceful solution to their issues, then let them both fight it out without U.S.A INVOLVEMENT. I'm not concerned about who is at fault, Don't start a fight and expect Americans to finish it... Such a foolish people... Charity begins at home... Not in the Middle East.

Yes Hamas don't start a fight and then expect the U.S. to keep Israel from stomping on you. I hope Israel gives you a good reason to come to an understanding. I know you think the only possible solution is for the state of Israel to vanish. Good luck with that.

Simple solution: Nape all of Palestine from one end to the other non stop until the entire country is burning. After the flames have died down, send in hungry hogs to clean up the mess. After a week or two make it a nice place to live.

No more missiles..........No more terror...............no more strap on bombings.............. The country would be at peace.

I don't understand why american leaders don't have guts....they should tell both F'....kn Arabs and F...kn Jews to shut the F up in media and screw them so hard that they don't ever dare to get us involved in their killings.....Nuke Israel and Arabs both......

When Moses was taking a shower as the Israelites were heading into the Promised Land a Palestinian stole his clothes.

But wait, there were not Palestinians at that time only in the 20th century....

Ah AHHH

November 19, 2012 at 8:12 pm |

cubanbob

Yes its time for the Arans to get out of Zion and while they are it they need to get out of Kurdistan and the rest of the areas they have been illegally occupying for 1400 years. By the way, practice what you preach and get the heck off the Indian's land you are occupying.

November 19, 2012 at 8:13 pm |

susan

Squatting? I think not. The land was lost to Palestine when the chose war over sharing the land. They lost the war and the land.

November 19, 2012 at 8:14 pm |

William Wallace

LOL ... THAT is the exact mentality that PSYCHOPATHS share, you sir are highly sought after in American/UK/Israel politics.

Well Hawleye, is that your usual advice? ("..finish this once and for all..") Did you send such advice to the Pentagon regarding OUR activities in Afghanistan? i think such a simplistic, arrogant and hypocritical observation/advice, illustrates why we, and the Israeli government, find ourselves in such disarray. A few wise observations: One, i often heard on the street as a child, regarding threats: "well, you've got to bring some, to get some. In other words, it's beneficial to be aware of the "consequences" of ones actions. for, it's not always as simple and easy as it might appear. Two: there is an old Afghan saying, "they have their watches, but WE have the time.

Over 8,000 missiles fired by the Palestinians since 2009. How many of the liberals here would stand by and say send a few more? These low life, women hating, child blowing up, corrupt, 3rd century, illiterate dirtbags don black masks, move in next to children and homes and launch missile after missile at innocent civilians in a country that enables a large portion of them to earn a living and the libs here blame Israel!? Grow up!
Maybe the libs here can explain the significance of the black mask instead of the white ones their KKK families used to wear.
It is time for Israel to finish this once and for all. These misfit, corrupt, thugs have been thrown out of Syria, Egypt, and Lebannon already and they still haven;t learned lesson one.
And as for the hypocrite liberals here, move into the ghettos and live in their shoes, then come back here and tell us your comp[laints about how you were to much of a pathetic chicken to turn in the nasties that killed your children and held you up for your hard earned money day in and day out while you blamed the police but refused to lift a finger to help yourself or your fellow man.
To Israel I say take the iniciative and finish this once and for all.

The REAL REASON for this tension buildup is due to the ZIONIST NEOCONS who are trying to persuade a conflict by PROXY for the state of Palestine-Israel. The REAL problem lies with the Zio-Nazi's in Israel, not in AMERICA!! Please stop placing the America public "lockstep" with the rabid zionist's interests in Israel! We DO NOT condone an Occupation, Ethnic Cleansing, and Apartheid of the Palestinian people!! And, AMERICANS DO NOT want to be ASSOCIATED WITH ISRAEL, AND THE psychopathic ways of the Zionists. AMERICA Thanks You, FOR DISASSOCIATING OUR PEOPLE, WITH THE "INHUMANENESS" OF THE ZIONIST-NEOCONS IN ISRAEL.Please refrain from "blending" our two nations in the future stories you post!

November 19, 2012 at 8:28 pm |

r.dale mccombs

You hit the nail on the head,to bad to many others can't figure it out!

Where do you get this is a a liberal/conservative argument? It has nothing to do with American political view points. I am a liberal and firmly believe that Israel has a right to defend herself against the attacks from the terrorist group Hammas.

HOPEFULLY WE ARE SENDING WARSHIPS THERE TO TAKE OUT THE REAL TERRORIST REGIME IN THE MIDDLE EAST– NUCLEAR-ARMED ISRAEL..WHY DO YOU THINK JOHN F KENNEDY DID NOT WANT ISRAEL TO HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS?.. BECAUSE HE KNEW THEY WOULD TRY TO REIGN OVER EVERY NEIGHBOR IN THE MIDDLE EAST-JFK WAS RIGHT!

Sad but true, so much posturing and back room politics. Wake up we are over their to counteract their regional influence and dealings with Russia. Imagine Russia with a pipeline from Iran through Georgia = Russia oil dominance over Europe. Remember Russia's little battle in Georgia a couple years back.

I agree with you. If Israel disappeared, there would be no more wars in the middle east...and no more Americans would be dying for an Un-American cause. I am so tired of the back-ally Israeli Jews siphoning money from the American taxpayer.

November 19, 2012 at 7:47 pm |

David

Only one side has the theology...no, the religious requirement, to wipe out the other side.
Israelis just want to live in peace. Their neighbors want them to die in pieces. Name calling doesn't advance any argument, but it needs to be said – you're an idiot.

November 19, 2012 at 8:04 pm |

rdeleys

Really? And what wars would they be? Haven't you had your fill of war yet? The US needs to have an evenhanded policy in the Middle East, stand up for the rights of Palestinians, and stop acting like Israel's lapdog.

Do you realize that we give the palastinians over 600 million a year in aid? No country in the world is doing more for those people than the USA is, we send them more aid than all the Muslim nations in the region. They are given BILLIONS of dollars in aid every year from the Western nations. Then Hamas and Hezbollah steal the money. You wann stand up for the Palastinian people then you should point the fingers at the people that are making their lives hell. Hezbollah and Hamas

November 19, 2012 at 7:55 pm |

Israeli terrorists

HOPEFULLY WE ARE SENDING WARSHIPS THERE TO TAKE OUT THE REAL TERRORIST REGIME IN THE MIDDLE EAST– NUCLEAR-ARMED ISRAEL..WHY DO YOU THINK JOHN F KENNEDY DID NOT WANT ISRAEL TO HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS?.. BECAUSE HE KNEW THEY WOULD TRY TO REIGN OVER EVERY NEIGHBOR IN THE MIDDLE EAST-JFK WAS RIGHT!

November 19, 2012 at 8:32 pm |

William Wallace

Another fine NEO-CON protege, send William Kristol your resume along with your comment, they're hiring specimens like you. You could be another Richard Perle or Wolfowitz.

I see you don't mind the billions the president sent Egypt this year. The computer you are using is powered by the Intel Pentium chip that Israel invented and we Gave them money to purchase from them.

November 19, 2012 at 7:37 pm |

D

FAIL.
the Pentium chip was developed by Intel in Santa Clara, CA

November 19, 2012 at 8:02 pm |

ggallugi

Liked. Did a quick google search and found out that Israel has like 1 trillion barrels of recoverable "shale oil" and a trillion square feet of natural gas. And i guess Putin was salivating over it could shift their views with Iran

Then I suppose the Balfour letter is worthless script.. it statesPalestine. as well as just about every map , or reference ot the land Israel (and their East European settlers) squatted on.

Truthful, Israel wiped Palestine off the Map, and Pals aren't taking it lying down... it's been 60+ years and they still tell Those Khazar "jewish" wannabees it isn't going to happen

November 19, 2012 at 7:46 pm |

rdeleys

Israel isn't a "real place" either. It was only created after the Second World War. So what's your point? Are you trying to justify Israel's human rights violations?

November 19, 2012 at 7:47 pm |

katlin

Why don't you move to israel U jew lover. israel=pigs. jews=pigs. israel=dogs. jews=dogs. google 1946 palestine map you jew lover. their was no israel. israel has been stealing palestines land since 1946. israel is & always will be cancer for this world. u.s.a needs to nuke israel....problem solved.... i know i know truth hurts

November 19, 2012 at 7:55 pm |

was blind, but now I see

The 1948 Israeli War of Independence was between the neighboring Arab countries and the newly formed state of Israel. The Arab countries did not send troops to help the people that are today known as "Palestinians" but rather they sent troops to drive the Jews into the sea. Most of the "Palestinian Arabs" fled to avoid the fighting. Remember, in 1948 they were not referred to as "Palestinians". This name was was created by the Soviet disinformation masters in 1964 when they created the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). The term "Palestinian People" as a description of Arabs in Palestine appeared for the first time in the preamble of the 1964 PLO Charter, drafted in Moscow. The Charter was affirmed by the first 422 members of the Palestinian National Council, handpicked by the KGB. This term was formally used by newspapers around the world after 1967.

November 19, 2012 at 8:01 pm |

was blind, but now I see

Ancient period

Depiction of Biblical Palestine in c.1020 BCE according to George Adam Smith's 1915 Atlas of the Historical Geography of the Holy Land. Smith's book was used as a reference by Lloyd George during the negotiations for the British Mandate for Palestine.[33]The region was among the earliest in the world to see human habitation, agricultural communities and civilization. During the Bronze Age, independent Canaanite city-states were established, and were influenced by the surrounding civilizations of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Phoenicia, Minoan Crete, and Syria. Between 1550–1400 BCE, the Canaanite cities became vassals to the Egyptian New Kingdom who held power until the 1178 BCE Battle of Djahy (Canaan) during the wider Bronze Age collapse. The Philistines arrived and mingled with the local population, and according to Biblical tradition, the United Kingdom of Israel was established in 1020 BCE and split within a century to form the northern Kingdom of Israel, and the southern Kingdom of Judah. The region became part of the Neo-Assyrian Empire from c.740 BCE, which was itself replaced by the Neo-Babylonian Empire in c.627 BCE. According to the Bible, a war with Egypt culminated in 586 BCE when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II and the local leaders of the region of Judea were deported to Babylonia. In 539 BCE, the Babylonian empire was replaced by the Achaemenid Empire. According to the bible and implications from the Cyrus Cylinder, the exiled population of Judea was allowed to return to Jerusalem.

November 19, 2012 at 8:07 pm |

NavyAmerica1

Agreed!!!! I don't see any of the other Muslim countries welcoming the Palestians into their countries with open arms. If the Jews had Gaza, it wouldn't be the harlem of the middle east. What a craphole that place is. There is NO CHANCE that any country will stand up to Israel for one simple fact- GOD will stand with them until the end. Period.

November 19, 2012 at 8:12 pm |

Israeli terrorists

HOPEFULLY WE ARE SENDING WARSHIPS THERE TO TAKE OUT THE REAL TERRORIST REGIME IN THE MIDDLE EAST– NUCLEAR-ARMED ISRAEL..WHY DO YOU THINK JOHN F KENNEDY DID NOT WANT ISRAEL TO HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS?.. BECAUSE HE KNEW THEY WOULD TRY TO REIGN OVER EVERY NEIGHBOR IN THE MIDDLE EAST-JFK WAS RIGHT!

November 19, 2012 at 8:33 pm |

mike

NavyAmerica, why would those other countries welcome the Palestinians with open arms? Those countries are not their homes. What is now called Israel is their home. Many of them were evicted by force, or the descendants of those evicted, when Israel was founded. And those who already resided in what is now known as Gaza and the West Bank watched as their neighborhoods became police-state ghettos. Stop pretending that the people we call "Palestinians" don't exist or could just go elsewhere. They have as much right to be there as native "Israelis"...and MORE of a right to be there than the European immigrants. Only when we acknowledge the crimes of both sides can an educated discussion take place.

November 20, 2012 at 1:08 pm |

US citizen

We request a reliable poll to show if the US population supports Israel. Every single person I know is sick and tired with their atrocities, and what's even more aggravating is that they complain louder than everyone else.

Israel KILLED FOURTY TIMES MORE PEOPLE than their enemies, and their cry for 3 victims covers everyone else's voice.

There is no where to hide, since there is no space to live. Palestenian pushed to a none human living standard by Israel. Any step you take, you go over somebody. Easy to say such words, since you do not live down there Charlie. You live in Seattle green belt.

November 19, 2012 at 7:11 pm |

Mike

Why don't you tell Hamas to stop firing rockets blindly into population, while mounting their rocket sites in school yards, neighborhoods, parking lots, roadways, etc.? I'm sure the civilian death would be MUCH smaller.

In case you hadn't noticed, this conflict is highly asymmetric. The Palestinians have some highly inaccurate rockets and that's about all. The Israelis, on the other hand, have tanks, rockets, artillery, jet fighters, and a wide selection of modern weapons. So let's not pretend this is a fair fight!!

November 19, 2012 at 7:44 pm |

David

I couldn't agree more, the US warships had better not get too close like the USS Liberty did. The crew of the Liberty monitored Israeli communications on June 8th 1967 and saw and recorded firsthand the brutal slaughter of the Egyptians. And what did they get for it, bombed out of the water and crew members murdered in cold blood, by our "allies". They finally just paid 22 million in 2012 to surviving family members of the murdered crew members.

Here's my vote for Israel. Did you bother to count all the rockets Gaza has been throwing at Israel every day for the last number of years??? They finally retaliate and you have a problem with that?? Fine, send rockets at your house and see how long before you do something.

Back up your "everyday" claim with hard proof! or are you just parroting main stain media which is given their info from A source. IE: "somone said, someone says, I've heard rumour that"
CNN is the PentaCON's channel of war propaganda.
Bring on a link to your claim, or stop speading BS propaganda.

November 19, 2012 at 8:20 pm |

Hong Tong

I can tell you that I do support Israel defending themselves against Hamas (who rule Palestine and are declared as a terrorist organization by the USA). The poll you are referring to is reliable. Most people support this self defense, the only ones who are against it are the people belonging to the religion of peace and their neo-liberal sympathizers. And no, I am no where close to any of the tea baggers, so its not a conservative thing either.

It is true that almost all American citizens in the USA standby behind Israel in the current conflict. While I would hate to learn of even on more Palestinian injury or death, I fear that weeks of Hamas rocket assaults have forced Israel to undertake a large invasion strategy of Gaza. When will the Palestinian people rise against the terrorist within their own borders? Nothing, not even Hamas, is as fearsome as a provoked Israeli military. For God's sake, end this once and for all. No more terrorist, means no more war! God Bless.

Remember the USS Liberty and Google it. 204 US Naval casualties with 34 dead. Attacked for 45 minutes by Israeli gunboats in broad daylight off the coast of Israel as Israeli troops were in the midst of another mass murder of innocent and completely unarmed boys, young men, old men in one of dozens of prison camps.

Three gunboats torpedoed the USS Liberty and while it was on fire and abandoning ship the next forty minutes were the three gunboats circling and straffing not only the survivors trying to leave the ship but racking and sinking two of the lifeboats and killing many.

Naval commanders wanted an all out attack on Israel (and since then too in 2011 with SOD Gates taking the letter signed by more than 20 US generals and admirals to attack Israeli forces if they try to attack Iran).

Israel is not and never has been our "alley." Never. Then when Bush 41 tried to stand up to them over the USS Liberty, as he was a Naval officer, the ADL and others came at Bush from every district in America and threatened newspapers and harassed letter writers.

Israel is not our friends. And too many in America, even in Congress, put the interests of this terrorist nation AHEAD of US interests.

Ever the Israeli defense chief (LTG) and the head of Mossad recently, in 2012, said all the hype of attacks on Iran was all for money and political power.

They are the tail wagging the dog, or try to be. Netinyahoo tried to interject his issues into the presidential campaign. People complained that Obama didn't meet with him but I believe he was only trying to force Obama's hand with Iran, thus no meeting. Pro Israel voters only a tiny percentage of the electorate but sure get a lot of attention around here.

Many comments spoken from heart, not brain (excpet for "all religions same --"). Wake up to reality. Powerful may feed the powerless just a little and keep it powerless, but will use force to push their agenda. It is law of jungle. Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah all at disadvantage to U.S. and Israel. Until that changes, no chance to Palestinians (120 dead and 750 injured compared to 3). And if you are Arab/Palestinian and disagree. Look at yourselves; if you happen to have food, money, property, why not split and give it to poor/dying kids in Africa/elsewhere. Because you have money and power and they don't. Same reason why your maid cleans your mess, but you never clean the maid's mess. Power and money rules.
Soooo, if you have it, fight, otherwise you'll get you butt kicked. Not much help that Arab leaders suck for their own people too.

Sadly, most people don't remember. My theory is that the Liberty incident was a failed covert effort between the US and Israel to justify US involvement in the Six Day War. Unfortunately for them, they couldn't sink it before the proverbial cat got out of the box, and had to call it off. This is why the hasty "official" US investigation is so in line with Israel's, and so completely at odds with everything the witnesses saw. The reason I think US intelligence had a hand in it as well is that there is precedent for similar such behavior (see: Gulf of Tonkin).

When will you guys just give it up about the manufactured "crisis" that was Benghazi. Yes, a tragedy; however, where were you when Bush ignored, TWICE, specific intel warning of al Queda's imminent attacks using airplanes?

If you're looking for an impeachable offense, how about manufactured lies about non-existent WMDs?

They were not manufactured lies. Both American and British intelligence claimed Iraq had them. If Bush had been knowingly lying, he could have planted evidence pretty easily.

November 19, 2012 at 6:49 pm |

Veteran

you are plain wrong Bob, it was all fabricated lies.

November 19, 2012 at 6:57 pm |

mike

Bob...they DID fabricate evidence! They used the echo chamber effect. The people saying there was evidence said so because they were told by someone else who was told by someone else...etc etc...but the road dead ends back at the Bush Administration.

November 20, 2012 at 1:21 pm |

Rasheed

Ambassador Stevens was the sacfificial lamb for the doings of our hawks and the anger abroad that they caused over decades. He was a soft target so they got him, buoyed by the tense air amid the video situation. Instead of looking at WHY, the US leadership (both sides) are consumed like addicts into arguing whether it was a terrorist attack or due to the video. Of course it was a terrorist attack. And of course it was due to the video. Does it matter? What matters is that he is dead. Some AlQaeda brigades are always armed and ready, waiting for the opportune moment, which they got thanks in part to the video but in part to dumb luck.

There is sooooooooo much anger out there against the US and Israel that even if today Obama and Netanyahu take a trip together around the Arab/Muslim world with rose bouquets in their hands offering them to every foe, joe and hoe, there will be many that will remain thirsty for blue blood and will settle old scores. This is a reality that Americans and Jews (mostly Israeli) don't seem to see but should. They want to leave it to their kids to handle later. You have dished it out, so be ready to take it.

I spent some time in the middle east. I respected their belief's and they had no problem with me .Not all of them hate us.But sadly I think they use citizens to prove a point because thats the only way they can or think they can get to our goverment. I gave them some american items and in trade they gave me stuff little things and they loved it. The only thing that was stresed was respect their religion. But dont get me wrong terrorist and a nuclear middle east is not a good thing.Hopefully 100 years from now we will not be teaching ww3 to our kids.

The Navy operates dozens of unarmed ships. You wouldn't know a warship if you saw one.

November 19, 2012 at 7:35 pm |

The_CIA

If you think they are not capable of defending themselves, you are an idiot. Also, they carry cobra helicopters which are considered to be an offensive weapon. Make no mistake, these ships are an offesive weapon which should not be discounted.

Also, they are escorted by equally capable escort ships. They go nowhere on their own. Each of them have at least three or four cruisers and/or destroyers with them in their battle group.

They've thrown that word around so much that it doesn't even have a punch any more. A lot of good people have been called anti-Semitic and lost their jobs for mild and fair criticism of the state of Israel and her heinous acts.. The biggest antiSemite is the Israeli Leader Ship

November 19, 2012 at 7:12 pm |

ghastly

Thank you, Lisa! Israel murdered American sailors and denied doing it. It took them 16 years to pay reparations to the families of the dead and wounded of the USS Liberty. They have stolen America's secrets and traded them to her enemies in exchange for Jewish prisoners. Screw Israel. America gives more $ towards Israel's defense than Israeli taxpayers do.

Freedom of speech is sometimes taken to far by many of you... those who speak so coldly and humorously about this whole affair should think twice about who you may be hurting with all your senseless and pointless comments. The lives of many in this area are on the line, the return home of all the military personnel has been postponed. Stop talking so freely about things you have no idea about and show some respect to SOMETHING...

Christina, I hear you. But maybe it's going to happen and we may have to just let the chips fall. If everyone gets involved – a couple of missiles into Syria and Iran, then retaliation, a couple of them hitting Tel Aviv, then Iran, then Syria, Turkey, Egypt attacked, US jumps in to continue Israel's work, then Russian jumps in to "evacuate" their civilians and then joins in then China. I wonder who would fight on our side if the other side isn't just Gaza or Afghanistan but China and Russia. You're right. It could be getting more serious than it has been so far. so let's all pray to YES, HE DOES EXIST!

chill out there truesailor. We love you and respect your sacrifice for all of us. remember it wasnt us opinionated souls that turned your ship around. we all hope and pray for your safety and that you will make it home soon, but we will continue to exercise free speech regarding what a waste it is to be messing with anybody in the middle east. the muslims, people of israel and the rest of you in the middle east can kiss the south side of a north bound mule. i cant wait until we finally wake up and realize that the only way to help you is get out of the way and let you kill each other off.

My husband is aboard the USS Iwo Jima. I'm not happy about them turning around but I can tell you he's less happier than I am. These guys have already been gone for 8 months. They want to come home. So while yall are blasting the US (which it's wonderful that you have the freedom to do so isnt it?) making ignorant comments and jokes just remember there are alot of unhappy guys on those ships right now. And please for the love of god no comments about how he signed up for this and should have known what to expect and blah blah blah cause my response to those comments I'll leave with you now to save you from having to put down your PS3 controllers and type them. My husband is and was aware of this possibility when he joined but he still did it because POS like a majority of you all were not willing to make that same sacrifice. So somebody had to do it.

November 19, 2012 at 6:05 pm |

well

@MCWife... i dont see you out laying down your life for the sacrifice either. Last time i checked women could sign up just as fast as men, hell some USMC women are going through combat training now. While i do respect the choice the men and women of our military have made, if all of us went then who would pay for it? Get off your high horse and realize your husband, while special to you, means jack s*** to most of us. It sucks he is over there but he did in fact, as you so haughtily stated, know what he signed up for.

November 19, 2012 at 6:26 pm |

Rasheed

McWife, All valid and heartfelt points.

But there's an option called conscientious objector. If he was a regular guy, I mean not like Bradley Manning who didsomething big, he would have been eventually ignored, but idolized by a growing majority inching toward being the 99% as more and more ppl see the futility of our wars, while they awaken to the realization that most are fought for a distant tiny country that's never been up to any good.

November 19, 2012 at 6:27 pm |

Mike

@MCWife – he signed up for it so shut up. And if you think I am a gamer taking time out of my game playing than you're uninformed. I'm an honorably discharged vet who did my time and in dangerous places. How about you go join up and show us all how patriotic you are. My guess is you are a typical overweight, gossipy, dependent wife. If you or he doesn't like the job he's doing then get out of the military

November 19, 2012 at 6:31 pm |

JeffLawrence

John, get your head out of your ass. You must be one of the "truthers" who think the U.S. caused 9-11 attacks as an excuse to have war.

November 19, 2012 at 6:33 pm |

US NAVY VET

Hey Well( or Hell )
Try going to the Marine Clubs, Vets orginations, or better yet the Wives support groups and say that comment you stated to MCWife. Your family would have a tough time identifing you. You are nothing but a fly in a pille of SiiT!

November 19, 2012 at 6:44 pm |

well

US NAVY VET... the same could be said if you walked into my house and called me a pile of s. Im sure you would have a tough time walking out. Why the f would i go into a group of marines or veterans and say that? think for a minute. Your comment is typical military gang mentality talk

November 19, 2012 at 6:56 pm |

well

PS thanks for the freedom and you are welcome for the paycheck

November 19, 2012 at 6:58 pm |

Dr. Salah Sultan

US war machine will be dealt severe end very soon. When all the device smuggled across open Mexico borders are fully in place in 251 American cities...poof no more America. Rest comfortable in your lazy boys while you can. soon very soon.

Hey there "Doctor",
Beheaded any infidels lately? Killed any of your family members in the name of your family's "honor"? Killed any muzzies of the other sect? Married any 8 year old girls? Hanged any gays? Burned any churches? Blown up any cars?
So how's your "religion of peace" doing?!

Dr. Salah Sultan – I call you out as a Jewish person deluding yourself, thinking you'll fool someone and create US animosity against your enemies. We are sick and tired of giving your country money so you can attack innocent people, and take land that did not belong to you!

Cool, no cops.....I can drag muzzie women and girls out of their houses....shoot the men in the groin and have them watch what I do next – plkease give me an excuse doc – I am empty like all of us here....you cannot defeat something that no longer really feels...if you know what I mean.

For everyone's information we are out here to do a NEO (non-combatant evacuation operation) in the event that the some of the 190,000 American citizens are not able to get out for whatever reason in the event that this situation worsens.

Their problem was the name of the ship. They feared Palestinians might have read its name and shought that thing for themselves.

November 19, 2012 at 5:55 pm |

JeffLawrence

Hey "Pastor",
Ever hear of being "killed by friendly fire"? Happens all the time in battle situations.

November 19, 2012 at 6:25 pm |

ivan

lol you have some nerv if you are american to complain about friendly fire how many british or other allies did usa kill in world war 2? america is known for going in and shooting anything that moves. and btw how many secrets did usa give to the arab countries attacking israel??? america abandoned israel and stabbed them in the back .. get over it .. u filthy piece of rubbish its war.

November 19, 2012 at 7:12 pm |

John

ts their fault they're in Israel, no one should save them, itll teach them to go there again to a terrorist country

Thank you. If you are on the Iwo Jima and happen to cross paths with the VMM- 261 personnal, and happen to cross paths with a SGT. Jacobsen, Please tell him that his mom LOVES him. Thank you all, and I pray for your safe return to the US.

It's obvious that everybody want Israel and more so the US to just bomb the krud out of Gaza, Iran, West Bank etc. Let me ask YOU do you truly know the whole story? I've read President Carters book and many others.. Trying looking an entire segment of your population up in two ghetos, take away all but near living conditions, destroy their schools, call any time of government they elect to be terrorists, btw owning the US Media is also helpful. Take away their crop lands, drive tanks into their streets, fly F15 overhead all day... do you think they might act up? Do you think they want a better life for their children? Israel give the Pals no option for a better life...Israel says it wants peace and then tortures the pal using the exact same type of warfare the Nazi's did to their forefathers. Somehow the US ends paying for this, why is anybody's question. Israel does NOT want peace it wants the land the native dead. Every few years they go in and kill a few thousand and of course blame it on the other side who have few weapons often throwing rocks at tanks. We in the US something think this is ok because it's Israel... if it were any other country we would be calling it war crimes. Truly tragic...

They have become terrorists for a reason. Without a strong military force they're reduced to terrorism as their only means of resisting occupation. How did the French, Poles, Hungarians, and Dutch resist the occupation of Hitler? If the U.S. was a militarily weak nation and a group of powerful nations decided to return America to the Native American tribes would we resort to terrorism to defeat the attempt?

The Palestinians could make peace tomorrow. Iran won't let them. Remember Arafat at Camp David. It was there, it was on the table, the deal was done........he finally said No, because he knew he was a dead man if he said Yes. What's the old line, "The Saudis, the Iranians, the Iraqis, etc will fight the Israelis until the last Palestinian is dead."

It's not fair for us to have it both ways. On the one hand we say that Arabs and Iranians are at logger heads, and try to convince Arabs to attack Iran or allow and attack on Iran, but then turn around and say that everything the Gazans (Arabs) are doing is at the behest of Iran.

November 19, 2012 at 5:45 pm |

bfd007

It is ironic that in America we are drenched with ad's on the tele to send aid to Israel for they are standing in food lines and need all the help the can muster. Now we see why!! They are spending money they do not have on military hardware that the U.S. tax payers are being bullied into paying for with OUR tax dollars (wither we want to or not) it is Israel that are the terrorist aided by the largest terrorist the United States Government !

What country? Never heard anyone from the US refer to a television as a "tele".

I don't think we will need to get more involved, but... Of all the wars we have fought, for all the stupid reasons. Backing up our ally is probably one of the most reasonable. No one could attack the US repeatedly and not expect us to fight back. I don't understand how anyone sees Israel as the aggressor here. The land was granted to them, they didn't take anything by force until they were attacked first. Now decades later people are still shooting at them over it. If it was us, we would have ended the threat violently long ago.

If it happens will feel bad for the innocents that die. But then I remember 2 things and know its needed anyway. First, that the heartless terrorists are placing their guns at civilian locations to cause those casualties. And finally, If I still have my doubts... I think about the day after 911, watching newscasts showing palestinian people celebrating in the streets the death of US citizens.

Yes, i will never forget the site of palestinians dancing in the streets on september 11. That proved to me beyond any doubt that those people are my enemy. I'm getting out MY dancing shoes right now.

November 19, 2012 at 6:34 pm |

JeffLawrence

Hi bdf007,
Beheaded any infidels lately? Killed any of your family members in the name of your family's "honor"? Killed any muzzies of the other sect? Married any 8 year old girls? Hanged any gays? Burned any churches? Blown up any cars?
So how's your "religion of peace" doing?!

"Both officials said the ships would be used only for assisting Americans and not for any combat role"

Well, that is their official role. It should be obvious that their unofficial role is to dissuade Egypt from getting involved militarily. If Egypt does get involved, expect the official role of these warships to change on the instant.

Half of the Palestinians are Christian, I worked in Gaza as for a Christian Releif Organization. Why dont you try to behave like a Christian if you are one, or just try to behave like a human being instead of an animal!

November 19, 2012 at 8:02 pm |

FKMA

WHY!!!! Dump them in the sea!! where they belong for stealing Palestinian Land!!

Hi FKMA,
Beheaded any infidels lately? Killed any of your family members in the name of your family's "honor"? Killed any muzzies of the other sect? Married any 8 year old girls? Hanged any gays? Burned any churches? Blown up any cars?
So how's your "religion of peace" doing?!

It's obvious that everybody want Israel and more so the US to just bomb the krud out of Gaza, Iran, West Bank etc. Let me ask YOU do you truly know the whole story? I've read President Carters book and many others.. Trying looking an entire segment of your population up in two ghetos, take away all but near living conditions, destroy their schools, call any time of government they elect to be terrorists, btw owning the US Media is also helpful. Take away their crop lands, drive tanks into their streets, fly F15 overhead all day... do you think they might act up? Do you think they want a better life for their children? Israel give the Pals no option for a better life...Israel says it wants peace and then tortures the pal using the exact same type of warfare the Nazi's did to their forefathers. Somehow the US ends paying for this, why is anybody's question. Israel does NOT want peace it wants the land the native dead. Every few years they go in and kill a few thousand and of course blame it on the other side who have few weapons often throwing rocks at tanks. We in the US something think this is ok because it's Israel... if it were any other country we would be calling it war crimes. Truly tragic...

You are SO off course it's not even funny, and do not acredit your statement as accurate based off our President's book. I've read many books including Carter's. Do you not realize Hamas was never "elected" in Gaza? Do you not realize they killed Palestinians in order to over through and take control. They have shot un calculated missiles constantly for decades at Israel that were provided by Iran, Israel's biggest threat and now threat to the entire Middle East. Israels has gps guided missiles and drones that strike exactly where the rocket launchers are placed and revealed when they launch. Did you not see with your own eyes the places Hamas has placed these rocket launchers, by schools and mosques? Deliberately knowing when they are fired a pinpoint accurate missile or airstrike would take it out, hence Hamas knowing it would kill the people it put the launchers by. And don't think for one minute that a rocket scuffle is going to deter Israel's main priority and that is Iran. Common sense will tell you this is a small part of a much bigger plan which is dealing with Iran and nuclear capabilities.. nuclear... not rockets..nuclear. Do you think all this time everything has been solely on stopping Iran and quickly... So don't make it sound like Israel started this because the history and account records shows they didn't. They are tired of this. Can you imagine if Mexicans kept sending in small explosive rockets into the U.S.? How long would we tolerate it if it killed just 1 American citizen? Hamas will never stop because they are terrorist that killed their own in order to run the land. They don't care about development for the Palestinians. Israel does care about it's people and it's growth as a people, and isn't going to let terrorist endanger that. I suggest you look at the records and History before basing your annalist of a President's reflections. Even Carter will tell you, they are God's chosen people. We will stand behind them, especially in dealing with the major crisis and that is Iran, not Hamas. Prayers for all innocent civilians, and hopefully the civilized will take control.

LOL, "God's chosen people". You are a fool. Religion is a myth. Take a look at history, it was created to control people. Religion doesn't exactly have a good track record when it comes to "terrorism".

Your religious nonsense will end for you permanent when you die my friend. You mistake me as you don't know me obviously. I never mentioned anything about Religion as I don't believe in Religion. I believe in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ my personal savior who was a Jew born in Bethlehem, hence God's chosen People. The spiritual aweness that overwhelms my heart is the Holy Spirit, not a church building or denomination, that is Religion. The spiritual aspect of goodness, compassion and love are the true foundations of my spiritual relationship with Christ. It's people like you Paul (wow your name is Paul. I wonder if you know where that name origins?) It's people like you, that I truly feel for. You're lost and Religion want save you. Terrorist are also a Religion. It's true spiritual relationship with the Creator that you seem to misunderstand. I hope you find it before your time ends. Look at it this way Paul. If I'm wrong then you've lost nothing, but if I'm right you've lost everything for eternity. It's your right to gamble and close your heart and mind. Do not confuse Religion with Spiritual Relationship and personal acceptance. As they say about guns, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." So goes the same, "Religion doesn't kill people, people kill people."

November 20, 2012 at 2:27 pm |

Larry L

With less than 1% of Americans currently veterans of our Armed Forces I'm more than disgusted with hawkish civilians in our country. It's fair to ask yourself a single question... "Are you willing to give your life or the life of a child for the military intervention you support?"

We've become huge supporters of Israel because the Jewish lobby in the United States is quite active and powerful. Most Americans could find Israel on a map and certainly couldn't explain the legal justification for the formation of the Nation of Israel. No doubt, Israel is one of our strongest allies – but they are far from innocent in their dealings with the Palestinians. They expand their borders incessantly and use U.S. muscle to back their unbridled aggression. As a former Multinational Force and Observers Peacekeeper I assure you, the Palestinians have reasons to fight against the State of Israel. They have become terrorists for a reason. Without a strong military force they're reduced to terrorism as their only means of resisting occupation. How did the French, Poles, Hungarians, and Dutch resist the occupation of Hitler? If the U.S. was a militarily weak nation and a group of powerful nations decided to return America to the Native American tribes would we resort to terrorism to defeat the attempt? Were we "terrorists" in the eyes of the Red Coats?

Absolutely Larry. Did you know that Jewish participation in our armed forces is less than .02%? THEY are not even willing to lay down their lives for that place, and why should they? We clearly will send our soldiers there for them. You can read the comments from the proud mother here. Very sad, because there is no good reason her son is in harms way. It is absolutely ridiculous to send our warships there and call it humanitarian. Maybe we should question the potential refugees "right of return?" They don't think Palestinians born on the land have a right to return to it. Why should they get to return to our country when the going gets tough?

That's because you're just a goyim (stupid cattle), according the the Protocols for the Elders of Zion – Google it, if Google wasn't forced to remove it from the search system.

November 19, 2012 at 6:17 pm |

Rasheed

Folks, the arrival of these ships to evacuate Americans out of harm's way might just mean that (it's normal for a country to provide their citizens with safety), Or it could be more ominous. It may be time to stock up on non-perishables, because the next thing we might hear is that Chinese and Russian ships also want to enjoythe company of US ships for a prolonged Mediterranean Party.

FOR EVERYONE ON HERE WHO HAS SOMETHING NEGATIVE TO SAY THINK ABOUT THOSE OF US WHO ARE ON THESE THREE SHIPS. THE MARINES AND THEIR CORPSMAN WHERE SUPPOSE TO BE HOME ON THE 24 AND US SAILORS ON THESE THREE SHIPS WHERE SUPPOSE TO BE HOME ON THE 28. DO YOU HONESTLY THINK WE WANTED TO BE TURNED AROUND AFTER WE WHERE IN THE ATLANTIC ONLY DAYS LEFT TO BEING WITH OUR LOVED ONES. DO YOU NOT THINK SOME US OF US WANTED TO SEE OUR INFANTS BORN WITHOUT THEIR FATHERS BECAUSE OF THIS DEPLOYMENT OR BEING ABLE TO GO TO THE CEMETERY TO FINALLY SAY GOODBYE TO LOVED ONES LOST WHILE WE WHERE GONE. FOR A MOMENT STOP BEING HATEFUL BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE REASON WHY WE HAD TO TURN BACK AND THINK ABOUT US WHO HAVE TO BE OUT HERE WHO WANT TO GO HOME AND CAN'T AND ARE NOW GOING ON 9 MONTHS BEING AWAY FROM HOME, IF YOU COULD JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO HOLD THAT PERSON YOU LOVE AND CHERISH THE LAND YOU LOVE WALKING ON DAILY FOR US WHO HAVEN'T WALKED ON LAND SINCE OCTOBER AND BE GRATEFUL ITS NOT YOU OUT HERE DOING THIS. YES WE ALL SIGNED THIS CONTRACT BUT WE CAN'T PREDICT THE FUTURE AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN EACH DAY AND EVERYONE OF US HAS PRAYED TO GO HOME ON TIME AND NOT HAVE TO DO A MISSION OF THIS SORT BUT WE CANT JUST SAY NO WHEN PEOPLE NEED US WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT. SO START THINKING ABOUT THE MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO ARE CAUGHT UP IN THIS. THANK YOU AND ENJOY YOURSELF.

You ain't no true sailor, 'coz true sailors don't write in caps. They just wear caps. You're on your laptop in your living room in Noo Yoak. But you do love those serving the country. If you are, indeed one, then thank you.

the reason i was writing in caps is because i was yelling to get a point across to those individuals who forget about us who just want to be home and are stuck in the middle because of the Nations Mission. and we don't wear caps we wear covers. and i'm definitely not from new york.

Good gracious the USS Iwo Jima is still in service. I remember that ship from my westpac days in the early 70's. I believe its sister ships were the USS Okinowa and USS Inchon. The old tub I served on the USS Sacramento was decomissioned two years ago.

This is so typical. For a moment when I initially saw this article I thought this was referring to how the U.S. would be sending ships to assist THE ISRAELIS in case things escalated in that region, but it's obvious that's not the case. Oh no, we'll send troops to support the U.S. flag-burning Arabs of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan but we'll only sit back and watch from a distance as air raid sirens go on throughout the day and night in the civilian areas of Israel to warn of incoming missiles. Israel is the only full-fledged democratic nation in the Middle East, and you wouldn't think it by the way we barely support their efforts.

because the location is key to us, we need that land just incase iran or another one of those countries pop off, that's why we give them free stuff, we need the location to be in the middle of things, DUH!!

November 19, 2012 at 5:31 pm |

JeffLawrence

bam, You are wrong. The U.S. also gives billions to Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority. Israel gives the U.S. billions worth of tech research.

November 19, 2012 at 6:48 pm |

NYguy

This is so typical. The moment I saw this article I knew this was referring to how the U.S. would be sending ships to take a side and do a show of force in the region. No wonder people in other parts of the world hate us for being a big bully. Lets send a bunch of WARSHIPS there for "possible evacuation of US citizens", riiiiiight.

I am one of the people on these ships. The Iwo Jima to be specific. If you think for a second we are warships then think again. Look at our previous deployments and deployments of other amphibious ships. Mainly we do evacuations and disaster relief. Our ships are equipped with defensive weapons to keep us alive, not take the lives of others. Please take a look at the facts first.

And what about Palestine, a democracy. Hamas is the elected party in Gaza elections that were seen as free and fair.

November 19, 2012 at 5:33 pm |

Payback is a witch

@JonfromLI: Pakistanis and Afghans aren't Arabs, by the way, and we didn't send troops to assist them. We sent troops to drive the Taliban out of power so that we could capture Osama bin Ladin who had been given refuge by the Taliban, and we sent troops to Iraq to drive Saddam Hussein from power because George W. Bush was convinced that Saddam had "weapons of mass destruction." Israel is a US ally, even though some of us have not forgotten Israel's attack on the USS Liberty. Americans died on the liberty, killed by Israeli military forces. Yet we remain an Israeli ally. Israel is perfectly capable of defending itself. Israel is a nuclear power. It doesn't need our protection or anyone else's.

Are you willing to die for the State of Israel? Really? Certainly you must realize when we use our military forces we will suffer casualties. Are you willing to be one of those casualties? If you pause in providing an honest answer I recommend you STFU.

You are under the impression that a ship has to be "near" a target to hit what it's aiming at. We can launch missles from well out near Greece or Italy and do terminal guidance by satellite and still be within a six foot margin of error.

Agree with you, Larry. I think a bigger war is imminent. People in other countries as well should go to supermarkets and stock up on non-perishables, candles and all the stuff that you get in times like these. Potassium iodide would also make sense.

Israel has been fighting for its exsistance forever,I cannot comprehend getting up everyday with the threat of being killed over your head,its time that someone put a tremendous ass whipping on all those countries that continue to stir the pot in the world,the UN is useless but we need a group of countries that can bond together and do away with these threats and let those innocent people live a life of freedom from the terror

And can you imagine life in Gaza, when bombs could turn your neighborhood into ash in moments, or living in Pakistan where invisible (to the people) drones could shatter your intestines and brains all over the street?

November 19, 2012 at 4:44 pm |

jon

Yeah, because Israel is the equivalent to Ghandi in this world. Are you really that ignorant to see that Israel is just as wrong, if not more than all of these other countries? Israel has turned from the historically oppressed to the future great oppressor. Sad.

-–VIVA USA VIVA ISRAEL,.,..THOSE TERRORISTS ARE EVIL ISRAEL SHOULD GO NEXT AFTER HIZBOALLAH and get red of them, and help turkey to get red of syrian bashar al kalb so it will be easy to get red of IRAN NUC POWER AND IRAQI SHIIA THUGS WHO ARE HELPING SYRIAN KILLERS WITH OIL AND CASH and allowing iran army to enter to syria and kill cevilians......IRAN=HIZBOALLAH=IRAQI SHIIA= SEYRIAN SHIIA THUGS=EVEIL RUSSIA = EVEIL HAMAS. -

VIVA USA VIVA ISRAEL,.,..THOSE TERRORISTS ARE EVIL ISRAEL SHOULD GO NEXT AFTER HIZBOALLAH and get red of them, and help turkey to get red of syrian bashar al kalb so it will be easy to get red of IRAN NUC POWER AND IRAQI SHIIA THUGS WHO ARE HELPING SYRIAN KILLERS WITH OIL AND CASH and allowing iran army to enter to syria and kill cevilians......IRAN=HIZBOALLAH=IRAQI SHIIA= SEYRIAN SHIIA THUGS=EVEIL RUSSIA = EVEIL HAMAS.

Guys don't think for one minute that there isn't a much, much larger picture behind this little scuffle of rockets...IRAN. I may not have official intelligence or anything, but common sense tells anyone with what all has been the primary focus lately with the threat of Iran and it's nuclear development, I assure you this fight is nothing more than a small part of a bigger plan. Keep in mind who is supplying Hamas with rockets, IRAN..Don't think for one minute Israel is letting a small terror group that can't even shoot guided rockets deter her from the main threat, Iran. You keep poking at a sleeping Lion, and he eventually is going to wake up.. The Lion has woken, as it should. Go Israel! We got your back!

Rasheed, you need to take a chill pill or either go home, one or the other

November 19, 2012 at 4:42 pm |

charlie

I think you are 100 % on target. sooner or later finger's will point to Iran for suppling arm's to hama's as well as they did in LIBYA. Only difference unlike the state's Isreal will smack Iran. not prosecute some general like we are for cover up or save face.I Hate war but what I really hate is the thought of nuclear arms in middle east. I have been to south east asia and the people I talked (spoke english well) to did not want to live in a world like they are. They live in fear everyday and its not there fault.

iran is trying to provoke the USA into doing something they can use as a "justification" for attacking us. If the USA does something that seems aggressive, they can claim that they are defending themselves by attacking. So they stir up trouble in every country they can think of in an effort to provoke us into throwing the first punch. I believe they call that "warmongering". iran is pretty good at it.

I'm sure they do love their children. this stupid line that netanyahu has got is being repeated over and over again by all these nazi fools. even ab abunak loves her kids. so don't speak against nature. By your logic, israelis might be the ones who don't love their grandkids or greatgrandkids, because sometimes change takes some time to happen. this violence debt they are incurring is about as big as the financial debt that the US is incurring, which would harm grandkids of both.

No she's right. Israel is extremely tired of being poked and poked with these rockets for decades, and Hamas didn't get "elected" in Gaza, they forced themselves in by killing Palestinians. These same terrorist are placing rocket launchers by schools and Mosques. It's terrible innocent have to die, but if a people can't stop terrorist from taking over their own land and declare themselves the leader, than something has to be done. Israel's rockets and drones are gps guided and accurate, where Hamas is just launching them unguided, but place the launchers in places knowing that drones will strike it. That is unacceptable, and if they loved their children as much as you say, then they would never want them to live under a terrorist rule that constantly invites war and attacks. In my opinion.

November 19, 2012 at 4:47 pm |

serana

Nobody wants to starve, so they can be persuaded to not smuggle weapons (if they are even doing that). Seems like a pretext for war by Israel, going and assassinating their leader. The Israeli and Arab people all want peace, it is just the politicians backed by the greedy rich arms merchants creating mischief.

Can't agree with you more, Serena. But people like you and I have to keep writing as long as CNN and others let us, because there are long periods when they won't post your comment unless you give them every bit of info you know about yourself.

while we we will be enjoying our thanksgiving dinner , children in gaza will be killed by american weapons made in usa and given to israel as present , is that the way how we promote democracy and protect the world.

mike-while we we will be enjoying our thanksgiving dinner , children in gaza will be killed by american weapons made in usa and given to israel as present , is that the way how we promote democracy and protect the world.
-Do you have a thinking capability thinking about children in Israel at the same time?

Fool, there's a huge difference. children in israel are alive and not dying. israel claiming to be victim seems to show they did the same in europe and claimed they were victimized by hitler. wonder whether the hollow-cast even happened.

November 19, 2012 at 4:26 pm |

Michael Rotman

Only because Hezbollah are bad shots

November 19, 2012 at 7:21 pm |

Sailor101

Can you say CooCoo for CoCo Puffs...I knew you could. What's your name again, is it Wacko in Wako?

I think you might be a little clueless. For one this is nto a Carrier, and more than likly closet Carrier is in the Persian Gulf. Since the start of the second Gulf War most American ships pass throuhg the Med, but do not stay there for any amount of time. And 24 hours from the Gulf to the Med is pushing it, more like 36-48 hours depending on the multiple straights transit times.

There is always one aircraft carrier (Nimitz class) in the Mediterranean Sea at all times, except for when it is in the Persian Gulf for a few weeks. You have it backwards. I made lots of port visits on my two "Med Cruises" while I was in the Navy. The carrier groups have six month "tours" in the Med. Sea, 24-7-365.

November 19, 2012 at 4:42 pm |

The Truth

I was a Naval Officer for 11 years and made multiple Med deployments. Your comment about a carrier being no more than 12-24 hours from Isreal at any given time is completely false. I remember times when my ship was the closest warship to Isreal and we could not get there in one day, let alone the carrier. The world is a big place and the very few carriers that are deployed are in too high of a demand for one to be permanently on a 24 hour tether to Isreal.

By the bye the article mentioned amphibous ships are heading to the area, no mention of a carrier. Also the ship pictured is not a carrier, but rather an LHD which is a multipurpose amphibous assualt ship. They typically only have 4-6 Harriers and another 4 Cobras, not much of strike capability. Don't believe me look at the picture, all the rest are transport helicopters.

At last. A person with logical thinking ability, speaks. This is, purely a religious war.

November 19, 2012 at 4:34 pm |

John Smith

I agree.....Religion needs to go

November 19, 2012 at 4:49 pm |

Newtonslaw

This skirmish/war is about land. Under the guise of religion but still totally about land, which there isn't alot of extra in the middle east. i also believe hamas should stop bringing knives to a gun fight and sacrificing their young for a few more square miles of land.

November 19, 2012 at 5:09 pm |

labandme

Yep, we don't need religion to believe in the creator or to worship him in our own way.

In that case America should give mack the land it stole from the Mexicans (California, Utah, New Mexcio, arizon and texas) and the white man should give back the land it stole from the bative americans. I wonder where you live and what you would do if a native american would demand their land back. Get an education before you post.

Unlike Americas westward expansion, Israel did not initially acquire their land through battle. It was handed to them by the British after WWI. From then until 1948 they built a military that would enable them to defeat the Arabs. Totally different scenario.

You're all blind. This is all a pretext for Israeli and US forces to maneuver prior to an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. At the same time, any response from Hamas in the event of an attack on Iran is neutralized in advance. Iran meanwhile sits thinking Israel is too preoccupied with Gaza to be planning an attack on their nuclear sites. If the current troop, naval and air force movements had happened without an operation in Gaza, Iran would have been alerted. This way, it's all being prepared without the prime objective being apparent. Expect an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities within the week.

All I suspect is that your kitchen cupboards are now out of tin foil, since you evidently used it to make a large hat. The Iran military, after waging years of war with Iraq, is quite paranoid enough without your help... but kudos to you for not mentioning the anti-Christ or Armagheddon...

I’m not sure where you get your information, but it’s worthwhile to point out that the aerial distance from the western Mediterranean Sea to Tehran is about 900 miles. A good portion of that trip is over hostile territory, and any carrier-based aircraft capable of conducting such a strike would need refueling enroute. Also realize we’re not talking about traditional aircraft carriers – these are amphibious assault ships. The Iwo Jima is capable of deploying a variety of helicopters, plus Harrier jump-jets and tilt-wing Ospreys. None of these are primary attack aircraft that would be used in an attack against Iran.

On the other hand, we have had one or two carrier battle groups either in the Persian Gulf or in the northern Arabian Sea, within a few hundred miles of Tehran, and we’ve maintained that presence for some time now. So why would we try to use something like this as a diversion to attack from the Med when we can have a full-scale attack in the skies over Tehran within thirty minutes after launch, and with no need to refuel?

Perhaps but not really that big a factor in the grand scheme of things. After all, we are already the world's largest arms exporter by a wide margin. As much as we Americans love to spout off slogans like liberty, justice and freedom, thriving/profiting on global conflicts is our biggest unspoken national agenda.

The United States has a Treaty with Israel as does the United Kingdom and other NATO Countries. If Israel is under attack by another country, that country is also attacking those Allied Countries. In 1974 a similar incident between Israel and Egypt occurred and the US placed Warships in those areas as well. The United States is serious about defending countries it has treaties with. This situation is extremely serious at this particular time in history. I can assure you based on my veteran experience on one of those ships in 1974, that our ships are on high alert and every sailor and soldier is as serious as a heart attack on defending its Americans and Israel if need be. The Hamas is just putting another obstacle in place along with the Iran Nuclear Threat and the situation in Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, etc... World Wars have started this way and we are more than 15 years into it.

One problem. That tiny piece of land known as 'Gaza Strip' is not an internationally recognized nation. It would be different if Israel was invaded/attacked by Egypt, Jordan, Syria or Iran but that's not the case here so there is very little justification for U.S. to get involved militarily.

Guys don't think for one minute that there isn't a much, much larger picture behind this little scuffle of rockets...IRAN. I may not have official intelligence or anything, but common sense tells anyone with what all has been the primary focus lately with the threat of Iran and it's nuclear development, I assure you this fight is nothing more than a small part of a bigger plan. Keep in mind who is supplying Hamas with rockets, IRAN..Don't think for one minute Israel is letting a small terror group that can't even shoot guided rockets deter her from the main threat, Iran. You keep poking at a sleeping Lion, and he eventually is going to wake up.. The Lion has woken, as it should. Go Israel! We got your back!

Hamas can't expect to get away with firing missiles on Israel .. however you are very wrong about who started it.
Israel did the day it was created by stealing land from Palestinian people without giving them any opportunity to have their say in the matter.

Israel and the entire region will never know peace ... and I think we should stop providing any support to anyone in the region. I think all people from the region should be band from international commerce and travel permission, all of them Jews, Muslims of the region, including Lebanon, Syria , Israel, Palestine etc etc . All of them, will be allowed to be part of the international community only when they have stopped fighting each other for at least 30 years.

It is not jew vs mulsim, or republican vs democrat .. it is us vs the banksters who supply and profit from war at the expense of human beings with families, made of the same color of blood .. feelings, emotions and all the rest.

Enough of the 9/11 war cries. If retaliating against 'Muslims' is what you are suggesting then we have already done way more than our share of 'revenge killings'. In all, more 105k civilians in Iraq and another 12k in Afghanistan has died during the two wars. It is actually quite sad to see Americans who have dumbed themselves down to the level of these testerone driven, 'eye for an eye' tactics.

Other estimates have put it as high as a million so *maybe* the 300k figure you used is plausible. Still, I went with the confirmed numbers.

November 19, 2012 at 4:05 pm |

serana

Especially when all the official versions of 9-11 defy basic science – like melting point of steel, buildings collapsing in demolition style when they were not even hit by planes, planes flying through buildings like a knife through butter .. very convincing .. but only for the stupid and the brainwashed.

November 19, 2012 at 4:33 pm |

XMalakhX

Unfortunately my brother is on the Iwo Jima and will now miss his baby being born. Get home safe bro

Well, actually the Israelis have been murdering thousands of Palestinians for over sixty years. Wake up, bud.

November 19, 2012 at 3:52 pm |

JAM

Very sorry to hear this as well. I sept over 20 years of active duty in the USMC and my first daughter was born when I was on ship in the far east so I know how he feels. May G-d protect you, your brother, your entire family, America, the Jewish Nation, and the holy land of Israel! May G-d destroy all evil which includes Hama and all terrorists.

God's with him, after all he's helping/defending God's chosen people. It would be an honor if I could be aboard that ship.

November 19, 2012 at 4:40 pm |

Mr P

My Marine son is on the USS New York. The issue isn't how you feel about Israel or the Muslim people. It really is about our men, woman, sons and daughters who are now in harms way. What ever happens, we need to be diligent in making sure that these warriors have the tools they need to take care of the job that they have been ordered to take care of and hopefully come home well. This is not the place to argue the history or the politics or the policies. Stand behind your troops and stand firm!

I think a lot of these people are forgetting that it is possible to support our troops but not support the war/mission/etc. Our service members do not get to pick and choose what they do. They are following orders. No matter what the mission, I will stand behind my husband the Sailor, my sister the Airman, and my brother in law the Soldier. I will pray for their safety, I will miss them in their absence, and I will greet them with open arms at their return home.

November 20, 2012 at 12:43 am |

oXo Mrs. C oXo

My husband is on the New York, so I know what y'all are going through. We don't have a baby on the way or anything, but he had to leave me for this deployment a week after we got married. My family, friends, and I are praying for the safe and speedy return home of all of those on the USS New York, USS Iwo Jima, and USS Gunston Hall.

Seriously, if americans can get out there they should go and let our servicemen be home for Thanksgiving. I don't like warships next to Israel. That bothers me, there is always some other motive and we don't need to be involved with the conflict they have going on. Both sides are at fault, and they need to figure our their own problems, actually the British should fix it...they are the cause of all this turmoil in the middle east. They set up all these ruling parties that hated each other 150 years ago to keep the middle east off balance because of fear. Now look what we have, chaos.

So let me get this straight: We can send "Warships" to "evacuate" those people "just in case" but we completely ignored Libya? The Obumbler administration continues on its downward spiral of stupidity!

It makes perfect sense to the Faux News crowd who can't wait to see the next "Outrage of the Day" every time they switch on the "news". They're right-wing nutcases just praying for the end-of-days so they can see the Greatest Action Adventure of all time... yeeeeeeehaaawwwwwww....

November 19, 2012 at 4:19 pm |

Marsha

Where was your outrage when 53 died under Bush and close to 300 under St Reagan during embassy attacks, or did your precious FAUX NOISE never mention that?

So, you're ticked cause he's not "ignoring" this too?? Before you start throwing stones in your glass house or calling the kettle black, you should really consider George, Dick and Don for the death of thousands and thousands. But that's cool with people like you I guess.

Perfect example of why President Obama needs to start blasting Republican obstructionists in the media when they say things as ridiculous and contradictory as what you said. Well at least conservatives are consistently inconsistent...much easier to dismiss them this way.

we dont need intelligence when we have whiners.....
If I werent so illiterate , i would know higher unemployment means higher people on assisted living.... but I am illiterate and think we should give Israel more money more weapons and american blood....

Yep, they fight like devoted mindless soldiers in strict obedience to their paymasters, who profit from war – never mind killing innocent men, women and children – they must all be terrorists because the bankster controlled media said so.
Paid mercenaries and murderers without realizing it, putting their life on the line for other peoples greed and thinking they are doing it for their country's defense.

November 19, 2012 at 4:30 pm |

Popeye

Can you just reach a treaty? The troops are trying to go home before Christmas.. ; )

November 19, 2012 at 4:42 pm |

MR. Brown

Just like the marines did the entire deployment? you mean when they haven't done anything at all? That's right, you wouldn't know that because you are living the good life on American soil, while sailors and marines alike are busting their tails. How dare you disrespect anybody in the military. Navy or Marines, we are all fighting this. Enjoy your thanksgiving, this marine will be out here with the navy.

November 19, 2012 at 5:00 pm |

Will

Oh STFU Candice! Do you know who safely navigates the ship to go where it needs to go, or puts food in the Marines belly while onboard a ship, or keeps the engines and generators running, or makes fresh water to drink, or keeps the ship's a/c running, or keep Marines medically fit for duty, or conducts evolutions to launch Marines where ever they need to go? I'm guessing you don't. And there's way more that goes on than just these few examples. No one's job is more important than the other. Everyone plays a roll. And plus there are Sailors attached to Marine units depending on what their job is. Navy and Marines have worked together since the beginning of both branches and it still will for years to come.

November 19, 2012 at 6:36 pm |

oXo Mrs. C oXo

Wow... Open your eyes! The reason we have 4 branches of military is because they all have to work TOGETHER to be successful. They all have different jobs and skills that make them work like a well-oiled machine. HOW DARE YOU belittle the rest of the military involved! Maybe you would like to go in place of one of them and show them how to defend our country? Oh wait, that would require you to get off your ass and from your shield of a computer screen. I'm sure you would act all kinds of brave until it was you in the shoes of one of those Sailors over there with the Marines.

November 20, 2012 at 12:51 am |

AN

you must cut the head of the sneak - Iran.
http://www.debka.com/article/22541/Iranian-arms-ship-carries-fresh-improved-Fajar-supplies-for-Gaza

Pass. We don't need to get ourselves into another war, especially since we will just be doing the dirty work for someone else' benefit. Unless Israel is once again invaded by its neighboring nations, it will have to fend for itself. We are not Israel's military arm or whipping boy.

Israelis spotted the ship at 6am. They followed the ship until the attack which occurred after noon. Israel followed the ship for more than 6 hours before the attack starts. During that 6 hours several air patrols performed reconnaissance over the ship. This very unique ship, not like any other ship in the world, a state of the art spy ship that looked unlike any other ship in the world. This ship with large US flags flying. This ship with lettering on the side identifying the ship as US.

During the attack the Israelis used unmarked aircraft in their attack.
During the attack Israelis jammed US radio frequencies.
During the attack jets flew within 50 yards of the ship.
During the attack helicopter gunships came in close enough to strafe the lifeboats the sailors were deploying.

Israel even admits the last of the torpedoes fired at the Liberty occurred after they knew the ship was a US ship.

The attack itself happened in international waters.
The attack happened midday on a clear, sunshiny day.
The attack lasted longer than the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The attack happened just days after Israel started the 1967 war.

There is no proof but there is history which shows Israel has a long and storied history of purposefully attacking allies in hopes the blame for the attacks could be placed on Muslim run Middle Eastern nations. Look up the King David Hotel Bombing or the Lavon Affair – just two instances where Israeli's murdered Americans and Brits while trying to place blame on Egypt. Iarael does this in hopes Western armies will beciome involved in wars in the Middle East as the Israeli army is to small to hold a full scale war. If the Liberty goes down, Israel would claim Egypt had sunk the ship and LBJ would've declared war on Egypt.

LBJ had already escalated US troop involvement in Vietnam using a phony attack on a US ship.

Operation Northwoods, a CIA plan to attack Cuba advised using a false flag attack on a US ship to garner backing for overthrowing Cuba. Information and the actual draft of the plan are widely available on the internet.

Patrick Clawson just recently stated to an Israeli think tank, the best way to get the US involved in more war in the Middle East was if a US ship would "mysteriously" be sunk. You can youtube search and see for yourself. He says it openly and without reservation.

To state the attack on the USS Liberty was an accident that happened in the fog of war is absolute nonsense and does a disservice to the 34 murdered Americans.

How would you like a good old fashioned can of whoop ass opened up on you Katlin... you're either a 13 year old girl or an anti-american pig. Anytime, anyplace...we will see what a woman navy veteran can teach you American style.

November 19, 2012 at 8:20 pm |

William Wallace

@NavyAmerica1 .... LOL .... Toughguy/gal, you really made a statement there. You will never realize that you are brainwashed.

They need you over in Israel, NOT here, we have our Federal NAZi TSA and DHS to "protect" us now. Go over to the middle east and fight Rothchilds wars for Israel, you will be heralded as that gladiator you so desire.

November 19, 2012 at 8:27 pm |

EB

I think Katlin is a muslim if you ask me. Muslim=pigs!!!

November 19, 2012 at 8:40 pm |

James

Why don't you move to Egypt and see how life works out for you? Please report back to us how that sharia thing works out?

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CNN's Security Clearance examines national and global security, terrorism and intelligence, as well as the economic, military, political and diplomatic effects of it around the globe, with contributions from CNN's national security team in Washington and CNN journalists around the world.